DUBAI: Three Iranian oil tankers carrying millions of barrels of crude have departed the US blockade zone in the Strait of Hormuz, according to shipping monitors, as Washington and Tehran prepare to begin negotiations on a broader peace agreement later this week.
TankerTrackers, a platform that monitors global oil movements through satellite imagery and digital tracking data, reported that two National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) supertankers, Diona and Hero2, were the first to leave the restricted area after a two-month halt in exports, transporting a combined 3.8 million barrels of crude oil.
The tracking service later confirmed that a third vessel, the Suezmax, also crossed the blockade line carrying approximately one million barrels of Iranian crude.
The tanker movements come ahead of peace talks scheduled to begin on Friday at Switzerland’s Burgenstock resort, where US and Iranian officials are expected to launch a 60-day negotiation process focused on a long-term settlement.
The discussions are expected to address key issues, including Iran’s nuclear programme and a roadmap for easing international economic sanctions imposed on Tehran.
Reports of progress in diplomacy and the anticipated reopening of the Strait of Hormuz contributed to a decline in global oil prices, reflecting growing market expectations that energy supplies could soon normalize.
However, optimism surrounding the negotiations was tempered by renewed Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon, highlighting the fragile security situation across the region.
According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, the United States will permit Iran to resume oil and fuel exports immediately after the peace agreement is signed. The reported sanctions waiver is also expected to extend to banking, transportation and insurance services, providing Iran with broader access to international trade while negotiations on a final accord continue.
